Search Results (74)

Geographical origin authentication of agrifood products is essential for ensuring their quality, preventing fraud, and maintaining consumers’ trust. In this study, we used proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometric methods for the geographical origin characterization of olive drupes and leaves from different Tuscany subregions, where olive oil production is relevant. Single-block approaches were implemented for individual datasets, using principal component analysis (PCA) for data visualization and Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) for sample classification. ¹H NMR spectroscopy provided detailed metabolomic profiles, identifying key compounds such as polyphenols and organic acids that contribute to geographical differentiation. EEM fluorescence spectroscopy, in combination with Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC), revealed distinctive fluorescence signatures associated with polyphenolic content. A mid-level data fusion strategy, integrating the common dimensions (ComDim) method, was explored to improve the models’ performance. The results demonstrated that both spectroscopic techniques independently provided valuable insights in terms of geographical characterization, while data fusion further improved the model performances, particularly for olive drupes. Notably, this study represents the first attempt to apply EEM fluorescence for the geographical classification of olive drupes and leaves, highlighting its potential as a complementary tool in geographic origin authentication. The integration of advanced spectroscopic and chemometric methods offers a reliable approach for the differentiation of samples from closely related areas at a subregional level. Full article

Fruits and endocarps of 21 species within the genus Premna (Lamiaceae) in Thailand were examined using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate taxonomic relevance. Overall, mature fruits were classified into two types: fully developed mericarp (fruit type I) and partly developed mericarp (fruit type II), with three shape patterns: broadly obovoid, narrowly obovoid, and clavoid. Fruit size ranged from 1.52 to 7.48 mm in length and 0.98 to 7.71 mm in width. In LM investigations, the endocarps were classified into three types based on the presence and shape of the protruding structure: saccate-like (protrusion type I), thorn-like (protrusion type II), and no protrusion (protrusion type III). The examination of endocarps under SEM showed that they consist of multilayers of sclerenchyma cells. The shape of the sculpturing cells on the endocarp surface can be divided into two patterns: irregular tetragonal and polygonal, with distinct or obscure straight cell faces. The morphological comparison and phenetic analyses using factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) show that fruit and endocarp characteristics of Premna hold significant taxonomic value for distinguishing certain related species and classifying within the genus in Thailand. From the first two FAMD dimensions, fruit shape, shape of sculptured cells on the endocarp, and protrusion type of the endocarp are considered as the most significant contributing variables. The findings also support the reinstatement of species previously synonymized with P. serratifolia, namely P. cordifolia, P. paniculata, and P. punctulata. Full article

Phenolic extracts obtained from the solid by-products of olive oil production (collectively referred to as “olive mill waste”) were encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposomes using the thin-film hydration method. This study examines how lipid composition, cholesterol content, and two different approaches to introducing phenolics affect the efficiency with which these bioactive compounds are encapsulated. ‘Bidni’ and ‘Bajda’ cultivars are two main olive cultivars found in Malta. ‘Bajda’ is an example of a variety exhibiting leucocarpa. Unlike typical olives, leucocarpa drupes remain white during ripening due to silenced anthocyanin-producing genes. These two extracts were tested for encapsulation efficiency and then evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human leukemia cells. Our results show that increasing the amount of cholesterol in the liposomes generally improved the retention of phenolic compounds, whereas the encapsulation route (i.e., inclusion with the lipids versus hydration medium) had differential effects on specific phenolics. Additionally, liposomal encapsulation provided more potent cytotoxic activity over 48 h compared to the free extract, suggesting that liposomes can enhance and prolong the delivery of bioactive compounds from this agri-food waste. Full article

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity of fruit wines and their protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in rat synaptosomes in vitro. The wines were produced from strawberries and drupe fruits (i.e., plum, sweet cherry, peach, and apricot) through microvinification with a pure S. cerevisiae yeast culture. Fruit wines were produced with and without added sugar before the start of fermentation, whereas subvariants with and without pits were only applied to drupe fruit wines. First, synaptosomes were treated with the wines, while oxidative stress was induced with H₂O₂. Subsequently, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of membrane injury, were determined. In addition, the Briggs–Rauscher reaction (BR) was used to evaluate the inhibition capacity against free radicals. All investigated fruit wines increased the activity of the studied antioxidant enzymes and decreased MDA content compared to the corresponding controls (synaptosomes treated with H₂O₂). After synaptosomal treatment with plum wine, the highest activities were observed for SOD (5.57 U/mg protein) and GPx (0.015 U/mg protein). Strawberry wine induced the highest CAT activity (0.047 U/mg protein) and showed the best ability to reduce lipid peroxidation, yielding the lowest MDA level (2.68 nmol/mg). Strawberry, plum, and sweet cherry wines were identified as samples with higher antioxidant activity in both principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Finally, plum wine exhibited the highest inhibitory activity in the BR reaction (397 s). The results suggest that fruit wines could be considered potential functional food due to their protective effects against oxidative stress. Full article

Almond fruit is characterized by a mature, hardened endocarp enclosing the seed. Despite being a drupe botanically, almonds are commonly referred to as nuts due to their low water content. The edible seed, known as the kernel, is the primary commercial product. Fatty acid composition was determined to value the quality of fat over four years in almonds of the Guara variety, from plots where the production system (organic and conventional), the irrigation system (intense irrigation, support irrigation and dry land), and the use of plant cover varied. The oil content and fatty acid composition were determined over four years in almonds of the Guara variety, using different sustainable agriculture techniques. Oil almond content ranged from 35% to 55% of total fresh weight of the kernel, with strong variability between years. Fatty acid composition was also highly variable, with significant differences depending on agricultural practices. Oleic acid, which ranged from 59% to 78%, was statistically higher with support irrigation. Plant cover also favored the synthesis of oleic acid. Linoleic acid, which ranged from 11% to 25%, had a statistically higher content in almonds from organic farming and dry land conditions. The atherogenic and thrombogenic indices and the value of health-beneficial fat was better in organically prod\uced almonds. The great variability observed in the quality of almond fat represents a very promising basis for establishing practices for adaptation to arid cultivation conditions, irrigation management, and organic and regenerative techniques, satisfying requirements for healthier and more sustainable diets. Full article

Olive oil and table olives are considered staples of the Mediterranean diet and have been associated with various health benefits. Literature reports that the final composition of the olive drupe is greatly affected by varietal and agronomic factors, each contributing to a different degree. To that end, the objective of the study was the evaluation of the contribution of different agronomic conditions applied to two Greek olive varieties (Koroneiki, Mastoidis) using a holistic approach of in vitro methods. The findings highlight the importance of the application of a combination of agronomic techniques for each variety, as marked by the differences found in the antioxidant radical-scavenging and reducing power assays. Furthermore, the results obtained from the measurement of redox biomarkers (GSH, ROS, TBARS) in cell lines (EA.hy926, HepG2, MKN45) treated with olive samples demonstrate the capacity of the samples to induce redox imbalance, either by protecting normal cells from damage, or by inducing oxidative damage in cancer cell lines, with the Athinolia samples exhibiting greater antioxidant potential at lower concentrations. This particular finding could have further applications in possible chemo-preventive approaches facilitated by antioxidant compounds of natural origins. Full article

To fight counterfeits, and to protect the consumer, the interest in certifying the origin of agricultural goods has been growing in recent years. In this context and to increase the accuracy of zoning models, multiple analytical techniques must be combined via a multivariate approach. During the sampling campaign, leaves and fruits (olives or drupes) were collected from multiple orchards and farms. By means of HPLC-DAD, metabolite levels were evaluated and combined with the trace and ultra-trace metal/metalloid levels evaluated by ICP-MS (QqQ). The combined dataset was then used to develop a model for geographical traceability. Furthermore, the mineral content of the soil, evaluated by means of ICP-MS, was correlated with both the mineral content in the leaves and drupes and the metabolomic profiles to further investigate the connection between the orchard’s location and characteristics of the final products. Full article

Olive cultivation is a key agricultural activity in Spain, primarily for producing oil. The extraction process of olive oil from the drupe yields a by-product known as ‘alperujo’, which can be composted and utilized as fertilizer. This research examines the impact of composted ‘alperujo’ on arthropod assemblages in the tree canopy, comparing it to mineral fertilization over the years 2021 and 2022. The study was conducted in two olive groves with different management systems (superintensive and traditional). Two types of sampling methods were used for the canopy: visual survey and sweep net. Under superintensive management, the presence and damage of Eriophyidae (Acari; Trombidiformes) in the shoots was significantly lower in the compost treatment in 2022 (20% of the shoots were occupied/damaged) compared to the mineral treatment (60% of the shoots were occupied/damaged). Araneae abundance was significantly higher (p = 0.033) in the compost treatment compared to the mineral treatment. However, under traditional management, no clear effect on arthropod assemblage was observed. In conclusion, the addition of compost to the superintensive grove helped to limit the presence of some arthropod pests compared to mineral treatment, contributing to a more sustainable crop. Grove type management appeared to play a significant role in the arthropod assemblages and effect of compost addition, but future research utilizing a greater number of groves (replicates) and an extended observation period should be performed to confirm these results. Full article

The olive fruit is a drupe whose development and ripening takes several months from flowering to full maturation. During this period, several biochemical and physiological changes occur that affect the skin color, texture, composition, and size of the mesocarp. The final result is a fruit rich in fatty acids, phenolic compounds, tocopherols, pigments, sterols, terpenoids, and other compounds of nutritional interest. In this work, a transcriptomic analysis was performed using flowers (T0) and mesocarp tissue at seven different stages during olive fruit development and ripening (T1–T7) of the ‘Picual’ cultivar. A total of 1755 genes overexpressed at any time with respect to the flowering stage were further analyzed. These genes were grouped into eight clusters based on their expression profile. The gene enrichment analysis revealed the most relevant biological process of every cluster. Highlighting the important role of hormones at very early stages of fruit development (T1, Cluster 1), whereas genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis were relevant throughout the fruit developmental process. Hence, genes coding for different fatty acid desaturase (SAD, FAD2, FAD3, FAD4, FAD5, FAD6, and FAD7) enzymes received special attention. In particular, 26 genes coding for different fatty acid desaturase enzymes were identified in the ‘Picual’ genome, contributing to the improvement of the genome annotation. The expression pattern of these genes during fruit development corroborated their role in determining fatty acid composition. Full article

Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) associated with Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca is one of the most destructive diseases of olive trees in the Salento Peninsula (Southern Italy), particularly on the cultivars Cellina di Nardò and Ogliarola Salentina. This study proposes the NuovOlivo protocol as a management strategy to permit coexistence between X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca and olive drupes and extra-virgin oil production. Thirty-two private olive orchards affected by OQDS and cultivated following the standard agronomic techniques in use in the area were surveyed during the 2019–2023 olive-growing seasons. Tested cultivars included Cellina di Nardò, Ogliarola Salentina, Coratina, Ascolana Tenera, Nociara, Leccino, and Bella di Cerignola. At the beginning of the protocol application, the susceptible plants showed OQDS symptom severity of 40–80% and did not produce olives or oil, while the resistant(?)/tolerant cultivars exhibited a 2–8% leaf scorch and a drupe production less than 1–2 kg/plant. After the removal of dry branches in January–February, plants were sprayed two times per year (preferably in March and October) with NuovOlivo^®, a mixture of aqueous botanical extracts esterified in the presence of sodium hydroxide with vegetable oils and activated at the time of use with sodium bicarbonate. In all the orchards, a slow-release fertilizer was distributed, and weeds were controlled by mowing or chopping. Upon eventual appearance, the dry twigs were removed. Treated olive trees produced new vegetation, rebuilt their foliage, reduced OQDS symptoms, and turned out cluster inflorescence and drupes. The drupes yield was 6.67–51.36 kg per plant, with an average of 13.19% in extra-virgin olive oil (free acidity 0.01–0.2%). Plants used as controls showed OQDS symptoms and were unproductive, and newly formed shoots were desiccated. The proposed protocol promotes, supports, and restores new vegetation, flowers, fruits, and oil production of the treated olive plants affected by OQDS without losing susceptible olive plants. The Apulian landscape and economy, based on olive presence and production, could be also safeguarded. Full article

The analytical study described in this work, based on NIR spectroscopy with a handheld device, allowed the development of a chemometric prediction model that has been validated for the objective evaluation of the ripening of olive drupes. The miniaturized, portable NIR spectrometer is proposed here as an easy-to-use sensor able to estimate the best harvesting time for ripening of olive drupes. The MicroNIR/chemometrics approach was developed for on-site identification of olive drupe ripening directly on plants, avoiding collection and successive laboratory analysis steps. A supporting parallel characterization by chromatographic techniques validated the spectroscopic prediction. The novelty of this approach consists in the possibility of investigating the olive drupe maturation point by collecting spectra in the near-infrared region and processing them using a chemometric model. The fast and accurate device allows one to easily follow the spectrum profile changes of olive drupes during ripening, thus preserving the fruits from being harvested too early or too late. The results of this study demonstrate the possibility of using the MicroNIR/chemometrics approach to determine the optimal ripening time of olives regardless of the plant variety, age and cultivation location. The results consequently demonstrated that the MicroNIR/chemometrics approach can be proposed as a new method to perform on-site evaluation of ripening by a single-click device. It can be conveniently used by any operator, who does not necessarily have to be expert but must simply be trained to use spectroscopy and a prediction model. Full article

Olive anthracnose outbreaks caused by the Colletotrichum species complex in the Mediterranean region decrease both fruit yield and olive oil production while also drastically degrading olive oil quality. The presence of various Colletotrichum species able to produce disease symptoms in olive fruits significantly deteriorates the efforts for an efficient crop protection strategy. In this report, the major olive productive area of Peloponnese was screened for Colletotrichum species capable of generating anthracnose symptoms. Olive fruits of 12 different olive cultivars were collected from 60 groves distributed analogously in the Peloponnese. Thirty-two fungal strains isolated from asymptomatic olive drupes were identified morphologically as Colletotrichum spp. and were multilocus genetically analyzed. The 32 isolates were grouped into two primary lineages resembling the previously characterized Colletotrichum acutatum and Colletotrichum nymphaeae based on the conducted genetic analysis for five genetic loci. The virulence of 16 Colletotrichum spp. strains were evaluated in a detached fruit assay of 10 Greek olive cultivars. The results clearly suggested that fungal isolates belonging to both C. acutatum and C. nymphaeae exhibited different levels of pathogenicity in a cultivar-dependent manner. Thus, cultivars examined in terms of the % Disease Index (%DI) were divided into highly tolerant, tolerant, and susceptible, and those analyzed regarding the % Disease Severity Index (%DSI) were divided into tolerant and susceptible. Our results suggest that the Greek cultivars of Athinolia and Megaritiki are highly tolerant to the vast majority of Colletotrichum strains isolated from Peloponnesian groves and consist of a significant genetic material for the future design of crop protection programs against anthracnose breakouts. Full article

Given its huge economic, nutritional, and social value, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is an essential food. This flagship product of the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin is one of the most frauded products worldwide. Although traditional chemical analyses have demonstrated to be reliable tools for olive drupes and EVOO quality assessment, they present several drawbacks; the urgent need for fast and non-destructive techniques thus motivated this review. Given the lack of comprehensive reviews in the literature, our first aim was to summarize the current knowledge regarding applying spectroscopies, imaging analyses, and other non-destructive techniques to olives and EVOO. The second aim was to highlight the most innovative and futuristic applications and outline the future research prospects within this strategic production chain. With respect to olive drupes, the most interesting results were obtained using RGB imaging and NIR spectroscopy, particularly using portable NIR devices and specific digital cameras for in-field or in-mill monitoring. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that RGB imaging and NIR spectroscopy need to be integrated with flesh hardness measurements, given the higher reliability of this parameter compared to olive skin color. Finally, with respect to EVOO, although several useful applications of visible imagining, UV–Visible, NIR, and Mid-Infrared spectroscopies have been found, the online monitoring of EVOO quality using NIR spectroscopy strikes us as being the most interesting technique for improving the EVOO production chain in the near future. Full article

An overview of solvent replacement strategies shows that there is great progress in green chemistry for replacing hazardous di-polar aprotic solvents, such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), and 1,4-dioxane (DI), used in processing active industrial ingredients (APIs). In synthetic chemistry, alcohols, carbonates, ethers, eucalyptol, glycols, furans, ketones, cycloalkanones, lactones, pyrrolidinone or solvent mixtures, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran in methanol, HCl in cyclopentyl methyl ether, or trifluoroacetic acid in propylene carbonate or surfactant water (no organic solvents) are suggested replacement solvents. For the replacement of dichloromethane (DCM) used in chromatography, ethyl acetate ethanol or 2-propanol in heptanes, with or without acetic acid or ammonium hydroxide additives, are suggested, along with methanol acetic acid in ethyl acetate or methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl acetate in ethanol in cyclohexane, CO₂-ethyl acetate, CO₂-methanol, CO₂-acetone, and CO₂-isopropanol. Supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) can be used to replace many organic solvents used in processing materials from natural sources. Vegetable, drupe, legume, and seed oils used as co-extractants (mixed with substrate before extraction) can be used to replace the typical organic co-solvents (ethanol, acetone) used in scCO₂ extraction. Mixed solvents consisting of a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) solvent and a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) are not addressed in GSK or CHEM21 solvent replacement guides. Published data for 100 water-soluble and water-insoluble APIs in mono-solvents show polarity ranges appropriate for the processing of APIs with mixed solvents. When water is used, possible HBA candidate solvents are acetone, acetic acid, acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane, dimethylisosorbide, Cyrene, Cygnet 0.0, or diformylxylose. When alcohol is used, possible HBA candidates are cyclopentanone, esters, lactone, eucalytol, MeSesamol, or diformylxylose. HBA—HBA mixed solvents, such as Cyrene—Cygnet 0.0, could provide interesting new combinations. Solubility parameters, Reichardt polarity, Kamlet—Taft parameters, and linear solvation energy relationships provide practical ways for identifying mixed solvents applicable to API systems. Full article

Lindera benzoin is a dioecious understory shrub native to eastern North America. Northern spicebush is a beautiful shrub with a natural round shrub shape, golden-yellow fall foliage, attractive bright red drupes, and precocious yellow flowers in early spring; however, its market value as an ornamental value has been overlooked. To improve the ornamental values of this under-cultivated nursery crop, breeding for a better compact form, larger leaves, enlarged flower clusters and fruit, and increased stress tolerances could all be beneficial. Polyploidy manipulation is a valuable method to improve such traits for many ornamental plants. This study established the genome doubling method by oryzalin-infused solid agar treatment on young northern spicebush seedlings. The seedlings of two wild populations in North Carolina were collected and used. A total of 288 seedlings were treated with solid agar containing 150 µM oryzalin for 24, 72, and 120 h. The results were sporadic in their survival ratios and tetraploid conversion ratios between different treatments; however, a total of 16 tetraploid L. benzoin plants were produced in this study. The 24-h treatment showed the optimal result, with 7.1% of total treated seedlings or 15.2% of surviving seedlings converted into tetraploids. Tetraploid plants had visible differences in leaf morphology, a statistically significant enlarged stomata size, and reduced stomatal density compared to diploid plants. This research provides ploidy manipulation information for all future breeding processes of L. benzoin and related species. Full article